ABOUT THE BOOK:
While usually protective, Melanie feels comfortable sending her sons to the Graceland School’s summer camp for two reasons: The institution is well-regarded and proprietor Emily Grace is a trusted friend. But Emily has been acting strange since three rambunctious Dalmatian puppies suddenly appeared on her doorstep. The unusual arrival marks the first of several mysterious happenings at camp, each more intense than the last. Emily’s rough streak takes a frightening turn with a discovery in the nearby woods—the body of her estranged ex-husband.
As suspicions rush in, proving that Emily didn’t murder her biggest mistake will be about as easy as raising prize-winning show dogs. Realizing she’s the only one who can prove her friend’s innocence and keep the Graceland School from shutting down, Melanie dives into an investigation on the victim’s whereabouts leading up to his demise. With a few spotty clues and Aunt Peg’s growing curiosity about the Dalmatian pups’ origins, Melanie must name the culprit before good intentions come back to bite!
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Pup Fiction by Laurien Berenson is a 2021 Kensington publication.
Talk about getting a late start on a series! I picked up Berenson’s twenty-sixth installment in the Melanie Travis series while looking for a Halloween themed cozy mystery last year. It was surprisingly easy to drop into the series, even at such a late date. I liked the book so much, I decided to read the next installment to see if my luck would continue. (There is no way I could read through twenty-five installments to catch up with the series- especially with all the other series I have committed myself to 😁😁)
I love the standard poodles, and the dog shows- plus, this story also features three adorable Dalmatian puppies, adding even more charm to the book.
But, alas, this is not just a story about dogs. It would seem that Melanie’s old friend, Emily, who runs the summer camp her boys are attending, is in a spot of trouble.
First, there are several odd occurrences at the camp, then the body of Emily’s ex-husband is found dead very close to the camp, making her a person of interest in the case. Emily asks Melanie to help her out by doing a little sleuthing on the side. Because she knew Emily for such a long time, and because her son’s safety could be at stake, she agrees, although Emily may not be telling Melanie everything she needs to know.
The mystery is really good- I thought I had it figured out- but I was wrong! LOL! With a good whodunit and all those wonderful furry friends, it looks like I will be continuing on with this series!
AVAILABLE JUNE 27, 2021
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY HERE:
https://www.amazon.com/Fiction-Melanie-Travis-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B08KKYX1W6/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pup-fiction-laurien-berenson/1137823884
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Laurien Berenson is an Agatha and Macavity Award nominee, winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and a four time winner of the Maxwell Award, presented by the Dog Writers Association of America. She and her husband live on a farm in Kentucky surrounded by dogs and horses. She can be reached at her website: www.laurienberenson.com